ENERGY OF THE FUTURE: NATURAL GAS

Natural gas offers an extensive range of applications:
- as vehicle fuel
- in private houses / building (offers comfort, it is environmental, cuts energy bills)
- hydrogen as the most promising potential energy

The today reserves of natural gas represent 150 billion tons of oil equivalent which could cover world’s needs for 65 years.
Reserves can be found in former Soviet countries approximately 35%, in the Middle East around 40%.
If from a single fuel source is produced both heat and electricity, then we speak of gas cogeneration which reduces the waste of energy with main advantages the better energy efficiency and the reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Before the distribution of natural gas a lot of necessary preparation should be done during exploration and extraction but once extracted the natural gas is treated in a special plant and separated to:
- natural gas
- helium
- hydrocarbons LPG
- residual gases

Gas is transported in two ways:
- by sea, it is converted to LNG and carried to special terminals. In Greece we import this LNG from Algeria at a quantity of 0,68 billions of c.m./year at Revithousa Island close to Athens. The LNG is regasified at this terminal and then injected in distribution grid.
- through pipeline. From the producing country to the consumer. In Greece our supplier is Gazexport from Russia at quantities 2,4 billions c.m/year until 2016.


Posted by D.Shistohilis